Grinding Gear Games showed new Duelist gameplay for Path of Exile 2 at ExileCon 2026, along with the first of the class’s two ascendancies, which the presenter called the Knight. The Duelist, announced in August as the first sword class, arrives in 1.0.
The demo ran through the Promenade of Heroes, where a black ichor has brought gladiator statues to life. The Duelist fought with two swords in a blood stance: parrying with a blood blade enters a ready stance that unleashes waves of blood, and Hemorrhage speeds up bleeds to build blood loss.
The Knight’s first point recruits a squire. “Once you’ve got someone under your command it’s your responsibility to feed and equip them,” the presenter said. The squire gets gear on its own equipment screen, takes any melee weapon and can be taught your skills through the gem screen. In the demo it carried a spear with Blood Hunt, which consumes blood loss on enemies to create explosions, and Bloodhound’s Mark.
War Banners raise attack speed and damage for everyone nearby. The Bannerlord notable adds a cultural standard: the screen listed Maraketh, Karui, Vaal, Ezomyte and Kalguuran. The Vaal standard leaves blood ground that Cyclone pulls in. Banners cost Glory, another node turns spent Glory into Valor for defence, and Mounted Charge acts as a moving banner that pushes and stuns any enemy it hits, “even really large monsters.” The demo ended on the area boss, The Profane Colossus.
The second Duelist ascendancy was not shown.
Still unanswered
- The Duelist's second ascendancy was not shown.
